Are unauthorized pets living with your tenants? Does one of your properties have damage that needs immediate attention? If you aren’t conducting regular rental inspections you may never know.
Scheduling a walk through every six months is the only way to know everything that’s going on before it gets out of control. Don’t think it can happen to you? Lease violations can occur right under your nose. We signed on a client recently and during inspection found seven extra people living in the home without the landlord’s knowledge.
Catching tenants breaking the rules isn’t the only benefit of an inspection. During the check in, you can also execute preventive maintenance to preserve your property. Here are three tips for conducting property inspections and how to choose the right professional.
Why Hire A Pro For Inspections?
Of course you can inspect properties on your own, but we suggest you hire a professional. Professionals have a keen eye for detail and problems you may overlook are visible to people who inspect properties frequently.
For instance, pets often leave scratches on the back door and window sills. These are unobvious places to look for damage and if it’s noticed too late the cost of repairs will come out of your own pocket. Be proactive and inspect your properties so you can charge the resident for damage before they’re long gone.
What To Look For In An Inspector
You shouldn’t hire just anyone to execute your inspections. It’s important to understand the background and procedures of a company before working with them. Ask how much experience the inspector has with properties like your own. After all, inspecting a 100-unit apartment building is different than inspecting a single family home.
Next, you need to question the type of tools the inspector uses to provide you with results. Will they send pictures to you electronically? Or do they send an inspection form without photos?
Some companies still use paper to record inspection details. This form of documentation is less trustworthy than a set of high-quality photos. You’ll need solid evidence to recoup damage costs from your tenants. Pictures are irrefutable, paperwork not so much.
The Key To A Proper Walk Through
One of the most important parts of an inspection is the record of its findings. The system your inspector uses to store the information should be up-to-date and efficient. Digital records are the easiest way to keep and recall details in case a resident disputes responsibility for damage.
We use inspection software that can immediately upload our findings to the tenant’s profile page in our database and it’s easily accessible. With one click, we can send inspections to our investors with notes, pictures, and our recommendations for next steps.
Need help finding someone to inspect your property? Contact us for details.
I think rental inspections are always a good idea. Everyone has had those roommates in college that were doing crazy things and destroying the place. Also, it’s good to make sure everything is working right and that the place isn’t going to go up in flames or get flooded by a pipe bursting. I can see how a professional would be good. If I did, I would probably do a lousy job because I don’t know what to look for. Anyways, great info. Thanks!